BENNINGTON — A local man faces criminal charges after police said he had a blood-alcohol level more than 2½ times the legal limit while driving with his two children, 7 and 10, in the car.

Michael A. Martin, 31, of Bennington was arraigned Tuesday in Bennington criminal court on a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of alcohol. The charge was modified because Martin had been convicted of the same charge in July 2006.

Trooper Elliott Justinger of the Vermont State Police said he had been dispatched to Shaftsbury for a citizen dispute at 8:50 p.m. Monday. But on the way he learned that one of the people involved, later identified as Martin, had left with two children in his car.

At Martin’s home on School Street, Justinger said, Martin told him he’d had 14 beers that day but had slept for five hours before driving.